They were handed over to a special team of policemen, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Zubairu Mauzu. The team was constituted by the Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Abubakar.

The Nigerian Navy on October 19 last year intercepted the ship at the Lagos Roadstead, which it said entered the country’s waters without clearance.

On further investigation, the vessel, which hoisted a Scottish flag, was alleged to have contained 14 AK47 rifles with 3,643 ammunition and 22 Benelli MR1 20 Barrel rifles with 4, 955 ammunition.

At the handing over to the police at the Naval Base in Apapa, Lagos, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Martins Njoku, said the Navy had completed preliminary investigation and handed over the suspects to the police.

He said: “Our preliminary investigations found the 15 suspects wanting. They entered our waters without clearance and carried arms and ammunition without permission.

“We were directed to hand them over to the police for further action. This is what we have done.”

The Nation, however, learnt that a search conducted onboard the vessel by a team of NN operatives showed the presence of a cache of arms, which was not declared.

“We further learnt that the vessel departed the port of Toliara Madagascar on August 21 last year en route Conakry, Senegal, but made a detour to Lagos on September 20 for replenishment and crew change.

“The crew change was done same day, which led to the replacement of the vessel’s former captain, Mr. Makarov Mikhail,” our source said.

Muazu, who received the 15 suspects, their international passports and the armoury’s key from the Navy, told reporters that the police would continue from where the Navy stopped.

He said for the Navy to have handed over the suspects to the police means that the suspects have a case to answer, adding that the police would ensure speedy and quality investigation as well as prosecution of the suspects.

Muazu said: “We assure Nigerians that the suspects will be prosecuted. If at the end of our investigation, they are found guilty, we will detain them. So far, there is no clue as to the owner of the arms and ammunition or where the suspects were carrying them to. We will continue from where the Navy has stopped and ensure justice is done.”

Efforts to speak to the suspects were unsuccessful as the ship’s captain said he would not speak to reporters until the Russian Consul arrived.

The Russian Consul, on arrival, refused to comment on the reports by a foreign news agency credited to the embassy that the suspects have been released and their journey to Russia is being processed.

He said: “Please, I don’t want to talk to reporters. I will also not talk on the matter to avoid aggravating issues.”